Abandonment and reclamation liability of inactive oil wells on First Nations reserves

Petition: 501


Issue(s)
Compliance and enforcement
Governance
Indigenous matters
Natural resources
Petitioner(s)/Location(s)
A Canadian resident, Calgary, Alberta
Date Received
Status
Completed - Response(s) to petition received
Federal organizations(s) responsible for reply
Indigenous Services Canada

Summary

The petition alleges that First Nations reserves have a large inventory of inactive and orphaned wells. The petition states that according to sections 78 and 112 of the Indian Oil and Gas Regulations, contract holders are obligated to abandon, remediate, and reclaim their sites once the sites are no longer in production.

The petition questions the approach of Indian Oil and Gas Canada to its compliance and enforcement of the closure liabilities of these wells on First Nations reserves. The petition also asks Indian Oil and Gas Canada for an inventory of all inactive sites on First Nations reserves, their associated contract holders, and an estimate of the total closure liabilities on
all reserve lands.

Page details

2025-09-26